Ha manul sh'vur.
The cab drivers in Israel keep screwing me over.
It's bacause I speak English, I know that for a fact. I even conducted a little experiment!
On the cab ride to Ben Yehuda street, I asked [in English] how much the ride would be, and the guy was like "30 shekels" which is re-goddamn-diculous for a 5 minute ride. SO I was like, [in English] "ok, then put the meter on." Knowing GOOD AND WELL that the meter should charge no more than 20 Shekels should the driver follow the shortest route to said street.
Of course, the bastard put on the meter and drove me all the way to bumblefuck-Egypt and back, so it added up to a [convenient] thirty-ONE shekels. I'm not one to get angry in public, but I hate being taken advantage of. I was like [in English] "Thanks for taking the fucking scenic route." and threw the skekels on the dash and walked out.
SO. If the constant variable of this said experiment is an Israeli taxi driver and the dependent variables are the length of time it takes to get back to the dorms and, subsequently, my shekels-- then the INDEPENDENT variable can only be one thing: the language I speak when addressing the constant variable.
On the ride back, I didn't say a word of English. I held up my hand and said [in Hebrew, trying as best I could to abandon my American accent] "How much to the Edelson Dorms on Mount Scopus?" and he immediately said, "I'll use the meter." Which has never happened to me before. Ususally, they'll be like, "eh... seventy-five." So I said [lied] to him [In Hebrew] "I came here for twenty shekels on the meter." So we're driving and he's hauling ass, asking me a couple questins, "Is the dorm accross from the Hyatt or is it the one closer to the main campus building?" etc. He rolled down his window and lit a cigarette... I asked [in Hebrew] "Is it ok if I smoke?" and he was like "Of course, here." and handed me one.
To make a long story short, he got to the dorm gate in 19.80 shekels. No questions asked.
And so I thank you, Hebrew University, for all the money you've saved me.
Because a Shekel is a terrible thing to waste.
SaM.
It's bacause I speak English, I know that for a fact. I even conducted a little experiment!
On the cab ride to Ben Yehuda street, I asked [in English] how much the ride would be, and the guy was like "30 shekels" which is re-goddamn-diculous for a 5 minute ride. SO I was like, [in English] "ok, then put the meter on." Knowing GOOD AND WELL that the meter should charge no more than 20 Shekels should the driver follow the shortest route to said street.
Of course, the bastard put on the meter and drove me all the way to bumblefuck-Egypt and back, so it added up to a [convenient] thirty-ONE shekels. I'm not one to get angry in public, but I hate being taken advantage of. I was like [in English] "Thanks for taking the fucking scenic route." and threw the skekels on the dash and walked out.
SO. If the constant variable of this said experiment is an Israeli taxi driver and the dependent variables are the length of time it takes to get back to the dorms and, subsequently, my shekels-- then the INDEPENDENT variable can only be one thing: the language I speak when addressing the constant variable.
On the ride back, I didn't say a word of English. I held up my hand and said [in Hebrew, trying as best I could to abandon my American accent] "How much to the Edelson Dorms on Mount Scopus?" and he immediately said, "I'll use the meter." Which has never happened to me before. Ususally, they'll be like, "eh... seventy-five." So I said [lied] to him [In Hebrew] "I came here for twenty shekels on the meter." So we're driving and he's hauling ass, asking me a couple questins, "Is the dorm accross from the Hyatt or is it the one closer to the main campus building?" etc. He rolled down his window and lit a cigarette... I asked [in Hebrew] "Is it ok if I smoke?" and he was like "Of course, here." and handed me one.
To make a long story short, he got to the dorm gate in 19.80 shekels. No questions asked.
And so I thank you, Hebrew University, for all the money you've saved me.
Because a Shekel is a terrible thing to waste.
SaM.